"Typically 20 to 25 per cent of the entrants each year are first-timers. Then you get your regulars that come every year regardless, then you get people that come to the event every second or third year."
The event begins in Ōpunakē Beach on Wednesday, heads to Waitara and Inglewood on Thursday, then to Stratford and Hāwera on Friday, before travelling to New Plymouth on Friday night to set up for the final day on Saturday.
AmeriCARna participants parked up at Ōpunakē Beach. Photo / Supplied
"The communities love it because it's a free event and it brings in a lot of revenue to the towns and the province."
Rae was expecting many people from Whanganui and Palmerston to travel to Hāwera and New Plymouth for Friday's and Saturday's festivities.
Cars are set to arrive in Hāwera at 1pm on Friday, where they will line the CBD for the afternoon. The town will be filled with live music and be busy with the usual market day. Events will include food stalls, a fashion parade and a scavenger hunt.
Hāwera will also feature a crowd favourite - the stop/go event, where 30 cars will have a drag race over 80 metres. The Harley-Davidson Stunt Riders will make their first appearance at the event and are expected to draw in the crowds.
"People make a big day out of it," South Taranaki District Council community events co-ordinator Hayley Old said.
"They decorate the town, local businesses have window displays. Everyone gets involved to make it a day."
"We call it the AmeriCARna calm. I know it might sound a bit gimmicky or cliche, but everybody is just relaxed. There's no stress, people coming to see the cars aren't stressed - everybody is just chilled out and relaxing, having a good time. Well, it doesn't get much better than that."
